New poll

If it was up to you, what would you do with the DH rule in baseball? Vote on the right, and comment here.

Manuel suspended

Mets manager Jerry Manuel has been suspended one game for making contact with first base umpire Bill Welke. He will serve the suspension today, with Sandy Alomar, Sr. taking his place.

Despite how blatantly wrong Welke was on the Victorino obstruction call, the suspension is still correct. The brim of Manuel's cap did make contact with Welke's face. It's only one game, so the Mets will deal with it today and move on.

Quote of the day

From Chris Thompson: (Edited for content, because Thompson makes that necessary. Read his blog here.)

"Nichols and Favre have to be f---ing on the side. They never send anybody else to do Favre stories. Always Nichols."

Chris, avoid the state of Mississippi for a long time if you're going to make accusations about Brett Favre.

Update: Vote Milledge

An update in the effort to vote Syracuse Chiefs outfielder Lastings Milledge into the MLB All-Star Game: there is now a Facebook group.

Join it, invite your friends, and Vote Milledge for NL Outfielder!

Westerly-Chariho on WBLQ

Tonight on 96.7 WBLQ: High school baseball- Chariho at Westerly. Zack Garceau, Eric Piccolo, and I will have the call. 6:50 pre-game, 7:00 first pitch. 96.7 if you're in the Westerly-Pawcatuck and Chariho areas, or on-line via WBLQ's website world-wide.

Ortiz scratched, updated Sox lineup

As if the Red Sox aren't banged up enough, David Ortiz is a very late scratch with what's being called a "stiff neck." Updated lineup:

Lugo DH
Pedroia 2B
Bay LF
Lowell 3B
Baldelli CF
Drew RF
Bailey 1B
Green SS
Kottaras C

Wakefield P

I think I'm going to be sick.

Lineups- 5/7

For the Sox, who look to split a two game set against lefty Jeremy Sowers and Cleveland:

Lugo SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Bay LF
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Baldelli CF
Bailey 1B
Kottaras C

Wakefield P

Rocco didn't bring the Paw Sox uniforms back with him. Probably too busy catching up with some other Hendricken grads whose claim to fame is "I went to high school with Rocco Baldelli." He bats seventh against the lefty, with the nine million dollar utility man leading off. This team needs a healthy Youk and Ellsbury for the big weekend series.

For the Mets, who face Jamie "The Ageless Wonder" Moyer:

Reyes SS
Castillo 2B
Beltran CF
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Sheffield RF
Tatis LF
Castro C
Pelfrey P

Church will start this one on the bench for the second night in a row, with the lefty pitching for the Phillies. Castro behind the plate due to his good numbers against Moyer. Sheff gets a start against one of a handful of starters older than him.

Milledge '09

Something I first read on Metsblog, and then Sons of Sam Horn:

“Milledge is on the NL All-Star ballot. He needs to make the team. Nothing would be more NatsTown than having the Natinals’ (lone?) All-Star game representative be a AAA player for whom the organization has no plan.”

This is a great idea, in my opinion. The fact that 1) Milledge is on the ballot and 2) The ballot is out this early is ridiculous. That being said, vote Natinals outfielder Lastings Milledge for the 2009 All-Star Game!

Tonight's Sox and Mets lineups

For the Sox against the much-maligned Carl Pavano and Cleveland:

Drew RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Bay LF
Lowell 3B
Varitek C
Bailey 1B
Van Every CF
Green SS

Masterson P

The Pawtucket uniforms should arrive tomorrow. After witnessing Pavano mow down a Tigers lineup with my own eyes, this lineup might provide the opportunity for Carl Pavano to have... back-to-back... dominant... outings? THAT is a scary thought.

As for the Mets, who take on Chan Ho Park and the Phillies tonight at Citi Field:

Reyes SS
Cora 2B
Beltran CF
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Murphy LF
Reed RF
Santos C
Santana P

A few changes from last night. Castillo gets the night off, along with Castro and Church.

Jeremy Reed finally gets a start. Major props to fellow QUer Andrew Vazzano at The Ropolitans for calling that one last night.

Game is on ESPN tonight, and tomorrow night's is on MLB Network. So for two nights, I can forget about not having SNY or PIX for the next three and a half months.

Over/Under

In an effort to get myself updating this more, I've decided to start doing some fun little things duch as this. Here is the first edition of Over/Under, something I plan to do on about a weekly basis:

Technical fouls in tonight's Celtics-Magic game: 3

Innings pitched tonight for Chan Ho Park: 3 2/3

Innings pitched tonight for Carl Pavano: 6 2/3

Minutes of NHL coverage per hour on SportsCenter tomorrow: 4

Minutes of Brett Favre coverage per hour on SportsCenter tomorrow: 12